Walker proposes voucher expansion

Gov. Scott Walker said Monday he will propose expanding Wisconsin's school voucher program in such a way that nine districts would immediately qualify, including Madison and Green Bay.

The expansion would only be allowed in districts that have at least two school buildings receiving a D or F grade on state report cards and have at least 4,000 students.

Walker's voucher plan is part of his budget to be delivered to the Legislature on Wednesday.

The plan is certain to unleash a tough fight.

Some Senate Republicans have indicated they are unlikely to go along with voucher expansion, unless it's approved by a referendum in the affected school districts.

"I think it'll pass easily in the Assembly. I'm not so sure in the state Senate," said Sen. Luther Olsen, a Republican from Ripon, and chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Olsen made the comments about voucher expansion on "UpFront with Mike Gousha" on Jan. 13, 2013.

Wisconsin Democrats sharply criticized the voucher expansion plan.

"The governor is shortchanging public schools while again giving more to private voucher schools, still without any accountability," said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca in a statement Monday.

"At a time when our public schools continue to struggle because they lack necessary funding, how can he justify giving more to private voucher schools? However, this shouldn't be surprising given the amount of money voucher school special interests have dumped into Republican campaigns in Wisconsin," added Barca, a Democrat from Kenosha.

One of the state's largest business groups praised the plan.

"You can't have an economy that is 'open for business' with out a well-educated workforce to mind the store," said Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce.

The other seven districts that would immediately qualify under Walker's plan are Beloit, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Sheboygan, Superior, Waukesha and West Allis-West Milwaukee.

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